Kinesitherapy apparatus



April 16, 1929. L.. slMMoNs KINESITHERAPY APPARATUS Filed Jan. 25, 1927.

. S l INVENTOR Mmm ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 16, 1929.

UNITED STATES LEO SIMMONS, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT COLUMBIA.

y KINESITHERAPY APPARATUS.

Application led January 25, 1827.` Serial No. 163,413.

The object of the invention is to provide power driven apparatus .for rapid y and bodily vmoving a human bein through short vertical oscillations to rapi ly liftand, in

effect, drop the body to approximately verti-` j cally shake or vjar the body for the promotion of certain desirable body `functions.

I have discovered that evacuation of the intestinal tract is promoted by such peculiar vertical shaking or jarring movement of the body, particularly where the stomach has received a considerable quantity of water preparatory to such vertical oscillatory shaking or jarring of the body. Under this treatment stomach lavagetakes place with more or. less rapid passage of the water into the intestinal tract, and subsequent evacuation of the' intestines. Whether or not this theory or explanation of what takes place within the body, by reason of this rapid short oscillation shaking of the body, is correct, the fact remains that evacuation does follow, such treatment. However, regardless of such physical functions promoted by the peculiar shaking of the body by apparatus of my invention, I find that the action of such apparatus in thus shaking vthe human body has the effect of horseback riding, and is most beneficial in its action on the body as well as on certain organs.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, my invention consists in certainl novel features, and in combinations and arrangements as more fully and particularly set forth and specified hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, forming. part hereof Fig. 1 shows in perspective apparatus embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a verti'c-al section.

Fig. 3 shows in detached.

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective. I

In .the particular example illustrated as an embodiment of the invention, from among others, for purposes of explanation, I provide a vertically oscillatorysupport for the human body on which the patient can stand in upright position, and an independently supported elevated front hand hold which the patient can grasp to lmaintain the desired position, during the oscillatory movements imparted to the body by the operation of the apparatus. Motor driven mechanism is also provided to rapidly perspective certain parts oscillate the support and the patient upheldy thereby.

In this embodiment, I-employ a supporting` frame or strong housing in the form of a horizontally'disposed box 1, preferably closed-except at the topi, and preferably provided at the'exterior of the bottom with a cushioning or elastic protective floor base 2, adapted to rest on the floor, las this example of my invention is portable. This housing 1, can be composed of a casting at one end formed with a forwardly projecting arm lor nose 3, tov whlch are mounted supporting rollers or- .wheels 4, normally elevated approximately from contact with the floor when the housing is in normal horizontal position, as in Fig. 1, supported b its base 2,' on the floor. The arrangement o the rigid nose 3, and the supporting rollers4, is .such that by lifting the rear end of the housing 1, the apparatus is tilted forward depressing the rollers 4, to contact with the floor, so that the apparatus can thus be upheld in a tilted position and transported, Wheelbarrow fashion, with the rollers travel/ing on the floor and carrying a substantial proportion of the weight of the apparatus.

he vertically oscillatory support for the patient, in the example shown, consists of a horizontally disposed platform or stand 11, carrier by and generally arranged above, or forming the top wall of, the horizontally disposed box or main frame 1. This platform 11, in this example, is substantially flat at the top and elongated from front to rear and ofsuch length and width as to provide ample top area to receive both feet of any patient spaced the desired distance apart, and to permit the patient to stand with his feet positioned at any desired forward or rearward location between the front and rear ends of the platform. In other words, in this particular example, -theplatform is of greater length than necessary to provide but one standing place for the feet with respect to the length of the platform, so that ample room is provided to enable the patient to shift his feet forwardly. or rearwardly on the platform to assume Adifferent standing positions longitudinally of the platform at Various distances from the front end of the platform, as hereinafter explained, although' I do not Wish to so limit all features of my inventionl The approximately flat top ofthe platform 110 j is preferably provided with a non-slipping floor or surface 11a,'to receive the feet. The

.platform 11, is arranged above the top' edges of the main frame 1, and preferably overhangs the same, and covers the otherwise open top thereof. The platform, in this instance, is at its front end hinged or fulcrumed to the main frame to swing vertically on a transverse or horizontal axis 12, arranged' transversely ofthe upper front vcorner of frame 1 and mounted in the opposite `Walls thereof and upholding the front end of platform 11, through the medium of ears 11b, depending from the under side of the front end of the platform.

Motor driven mechanism is provided within the box-like frame 1, below platform 11, to osoillate the platform and its load (the patient supported thereby) rapidly in an up and down direction -to attain' the peculiar desired vertical shaking of the patient. Various mechanisms for this purpose can be provided, although in the example illustrated I show a cam 14, vertically rotating about a transverse horizontal axis 15,- and acting on, to control the vertical position of, a rotary roll 16, carried by a bracket 17, fixed to and depending from the under side of the rear or free end of platform 11. The axis of this roll is parallel with the axis of the Cam and the roll is arranged above the roll in such manner that the'cam travels againstthe roll, particularly when the platform is depressed by the weight of the patient, to elevate the latform and permit drop thereof as the roll ollows the cam periphery, whether or not the limit of downward movement of the roll is such as to permit the roll to continuously engage the cam edge throughout a complete revolution of the cam.

I prefer to employ means to cushion the drop ofthe platform under the load of the patient, and to yieldingly uphold the rear of the platform, when not carrying the pa-y tient, from its limit of downward movement, in which unloaded position the platform appears in Figs. 1 and 2.' For instance, such cushioning device can be formed by one or more vertical spring upheld plungers 18, carried by the rear end of the frame 1, and projecting upwardly therefrom to abut the under side of the rear end of the platform and nor-I mally uphold the same a distance'abovethe frame 1, when the patient is not on the platform. The weight of the'patient on the platform is sufficient to force down the plungers in their sockets in the frame 1, and against the tension of their springs, to bring the roll 16 into full operative relation with the cam 14, to elevate the loaded platform its full stroke, say about one inch, slightly more or less, and permit its drop the same distance, with each drop finally cushioned to avoid a distinct knock or blow.

The cam is usually continuously rotated in one direction, to actuate the loaded platform at the rate of approximately one hundred to one hundred and twenty-five oscillations per minute or thereabouts, which accordin to my experience will usually vertically s ake the body to the extent necessary to produce the results desired.

I preferably fix the cam rigidly on a rotary driven cross shaft 15, driven by spiral and worm gearing 19, from drive shaft 20, having more or lessloose detachable coupling connection 21, with the shaft 22, of an electric motor 23, secured within the box-like frame 1. The cam shaft 15, is mounted in the frame and extends'into or through a preferably lubricant tight gear box 24, rigidly secured within the frame 1 and enclosing the spiral and worm gearing. 'Ihe worm shaftl is also mounted in said gear box and projects therefromapproximately in alinement with motor shaft 22.

The rigid bracket or nose 3, serves to carry the support for the handle 5, located at an elevated front position with respect to the patients position and the main frame or hous-` ing 1i In the example shown, the elevated handle 5, provides handle holds for both hands of the patient, in other words a T or twin handle is provided. This twin handle can be in the form of a horizontal cross head having a `central depending vertically-elongated stem 6, rigid therewith. This handle is carried by a vertical elongated post arranged a distance in front of the supporting frame 1, and rising from and at its lower end normally fixed to the bracket or nose 3. In the particular example illustrated, this post embodies a lower section 7 at its lower end fitted and clamped in a vertical socket in the nose 3, and a tubular upper section 8, in longitudinal upward continuation of section 7, and telcscoped therewith and preferably coupled thereto againstsubstantial relative longitudinal movement but preferably to permit the upper section 8, to turn .or rotate on its longitudinal axis with respect to the lower section, although I do not wish to so limit my invention. However, the two sections 7, 8,

can if so desired, be locked together against such rotation, by stop or clamping screw 9.

The shank 6, of the handle 5, depends in the post section 8, through the upper end thereof and is normally secured rigidly thereto, as by clamping screw 10, and is slidable vertically with respect to the supporting post when released by clamping screw 10, to adjust the handle to the elevation desired by the particular patient. l

Any suitable manually-operated electric switch, such as 25, is provided for stopping and starting the motor 23, and this switch is, preferably, conveniently located and accessible to the patient standing on the platform.

For instance, I locate this switch on the upon the platform increases the vertical throw` dle 5. The electric wire cable v26, leads from the switch to the motor, and the free end electric wire cable 27, leads from the switch and at .its free end is equipped with a suitable terminal whereby the wire cable can be plugged into any convenient socket for coupling into the house power circuit.

In using the apparatus, the patient steps up onto the platform 1l, standing in upright position with both feet on the platform. The load thus placed on the platform depresses the same the distance permitted by the cam 14 according to the particular position ofthe cam at the time. The patient has preferably consumed the desired Vquantity of water preparatory to the shaking operation, and having positioned his feet, as desired, on platform 11, and grasped elevated handle 5, that is conveniently located at the desired elevation in front of the patient, thereupon throws switch 25, to start the motor, and initiate the shaking operation.

The handle 5, or the equivalent thereof, performs an important function, in enabling the patient to maintain his balance in the desired upright position on the oscillating platform or other support, and to provide the patient with a steady support or brace to give the patient confidence against falling from his otherwise unstable support.

The particular example illustrated, that provides an elongated oscillatory platform swinging vertically from one end,4 thereby performs an important function in that different points in the length of the platform oscillate vertically 'different distances so that the patient by moving his position rearwardly to which he is subjected, and by moving forwardly subjects himself to shorter `vertical shaking movement.

When the treatment has continued forthe desired or prescribed duration, the patient stops the motor by switch 25, and thereupon steps down the platform 11, aided by handle 5, which also aids the patient in stepping up onto the platform and in maintaining himself in a steady position thereon.

The mechanism for causing vertical oscillation of the support for the patient, whether the patient stands, or sits thereon with his torso upright, to shake the patient, approximately as hereinbefore described, is so constructed and arranged that the descending movements are rapid with respect to the speedof the ascending movements, preferably the support is, elevated its full upward stroke and then permitted to drop by gravity to produce the desired'shaking action on the human body. The cushions 18, are hence provided to prevent hammering or jarring blows by the dropping movements of the support 11.

It is evident that various changes, modifications and variations might be resorted to wlthout departing from the spirit and scope cam carried by the base under the stand forv cooperation withl said roller to uphold the stand and the patient thereon and to rapidly swing the stand up and permit the same to dropby gravity, and spring cushioning means carried by the base and norlnally holding the unloaded stand elevated with respect to said cam, said spring cushioning means arranged to cushion the gravity dropping movements of the stand when carrying the patient.

2. Apparatus for rapidly shaking the human body vertically while the patient is in upright position, comprising a hollow open top base, a patient carrying and receiving stand arranged over the open top of the base and at one end pivotally joined to the base, spring cushioning means normally yieldingly upholding the free end of said stand when unloaded, a shaft supported in the stand and provided with actuating means for cooperating with the free end of the stand to rapidly swing the stand vertically when loaded by the weight of the patient thereon, a motor inthe base, and driving transmission from the motor to said shaft for rotating the shaft, said transmissionincluding a loosecoupling.

3. Apparatus for rapidly shaking the human body vertically while the patient is in upright position to promote certain bodily functions, that includes a hollow open top base, a patient carrying and receiving stand l on which the lpatient stands in upright position, arranged over the open top of thebase and at one end portion pivotally joined to the base, spring cushioning means normally yieldingly upholding the free end of said stand when unloaded, a shaft supported in the stand and provided with actuating means for cooperating with the free end of the stand to rapidly swing the stand vertically when loaded by the weight ofthe patient thereon, andpermit the same to drop by gravity to produce a 4patient shaking jar, a motor in the base, and driving transmission from the motor to'said shaft forrotating the shaft.

4. Kinesitherapy apparatus/ including a base; a platform carried by i'the base and mounted to swing vertically with respect thereto from one end portion, whereby the vertical movement of the platform increases from said end portion toward the opposite end of the platform, and whereby the patient standing on and supported by said platform can vary the vertical movements of his body with the platform by shifting his position on the platform toward either end thereof;

means carried by the base to enable the patient" p to maintainhis position on the platform during the swinging movements thereof;- and mechanism for causing said platform when depressed by the Weight of the patient standing thereon, to swing vertically on short 1l) Tapidly repeated up and down patient shaking movements.

5. Kinesitherapy apparatus including a base; a support for the patient; rotary means carried by said base for cooperating with said support, When said support is depressed by the Weight of the patient carried thereby, to impart rapidly repeated lifting movements to said support and its load and patient shaking gravity return drops on its release by the completion of each lifting movement; and spring means normally upholding said suport 'when not loaded by the patient, elevated with respect to said rotary means.

6. Kinesitherapy apparatus including a base; a rotary cam carriedv thereby; and a vertically movable patient supporting plat- I LE'o sIMMo'Ns. 

